Validation of Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) in Predicting Outcomes in Clinical Oncology Ward Adult Patients

This study is to validate the use of the modified early warning score (MEWS) in an adult oncology ward as a predictor of 7 day mortality or intensive care unit (ICU) admission. It is expected that either a MEWS score ≥4 or a change in score of ≥2 from the initial reading will be associated with an increased risk of death or ICU admission, and should be regarded as a MEWS Alarm. If MEWS is proof to be a reliable alternative tool, early diagnosis and aggressive management of life-threatening complications in oncology patients, results in dramatic improvements in overall survival rates. This is a prospective, single centre, observational, cohort study. Objective of this study is to investigate the ability of the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) to predict 7 day mortality in adult clinical oncology ward patients. The alternate hypothesis of this study is a significant difference in 7 day mortality between adult oncology ward patients with a MEWS Alarm and adult oncology ward patients without a MEWS alarm. The null hypothesis is a no significant difference in 7 day mortality between adult oncology ward patients with a MEWS Alarm and adult oncology ward patients without a MEWS alarm. The primary outcome measure in this study is the number of patients who die within 7 days of a MEWS Alarm (7 day mortality). The secondary outcome measure in this study is the number of patients admitted to ICU within 7 days of a MEWS Alarm.